Russian lawmakers expect to develop constructive dialogue with Kiev’s new authorities

MOSCOW, May 26 (Itar-Tass) - Members of the State Duma lower house of RF parliament hope that it will be possible to establish a constructive dialogue with Kiev’s new authorities after the May 25 early presidential election in Ukraine. “We will hope that a constructive dialogue is possible if the election has finally taken place, even if not all Ukraine took part in it,” first deputy chairman of the lower house committee constitutional legislation and state building Aleksandr Ageyev told Itar-Tass. According to him, the Russian side “has always been ready for compromise dialogue.” “We hope that despite everything, this dialogue will be successful... Elections mean a step forward, which is positive,” the parliamentarian stressed. He also said that “elections at gunpoint and under the cover of tanks cannot be called wholly legitimate.” “Unfortunately, the election campaign had the signs of being conducted against the background of combat actions, in the conditions of non-transparency to media,” Ageyev said. “I doubt that the fire in Ukraine will be put out right after the presidential election. None of the candidates has been a consolidated nominee from the major part of the Ukrainian population. The whole elite was too divided,” he added. Head of the Duma committee on CIS affairs, Eurasian integration and relations with compatriots Leonid Slutsky said for his part that “from the constructive approach viewpoint, it is better to accept today’s reality - legitimisation of the authority through the presidential election and to begin a constructive dialogue.” He added, however, that the Russian side still has justified doubts regarding the legitimacy of the election of the new authorities of Ukraine, including at the presidential level. According to the committee head, “the main question now is whether this election becomes a turning point in Ukraine’s history and if it results in stopping the bloodshed and escalation of violence, whether it gives an impetus to a constructive civil dialogue.” “If this happens, then undoubtedly such a turn of events will make the recently held presidential election legitimate,” the Duma committee head added. Slutsky said that Russian lawmakers were ready to intensify the dialogue with the Ukrainian authorities with taking into account the May 25 presidential election. “We are certainly ready for a constructive dialogue with the new Kiev authorities, we hope to intensify our contacts with the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada (parliament), although it should be noted that this dialogue has not been discontinued,” he concluded. The early presidential election was held in Ukraine on Sunday, May 25. Presidential candidate Pyotr Poroshenko, according to preliminary information, has polled more than 50 percent of votes. Learn more on itar-tass.com